What kind of power cable? |
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Maze
Registered User Joined: 13 April 2014 Location: China Status: Offline Points: 179 |
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Posted: 26 September 2020 at 10:52am |
I've only taken my PA out one time for a festival in the desert. I damn near fried it as I hooked it up to the power source using some low quality power cables. The bass amps protection system kept kicking in and turning off the amp until the power guy came around and saw the weak cables I had used and changed them for someting better. So, now I'm taking out the system again, I want to buy my own cables to hook it up with the power source. What kind of cable should I look for? I'm in China so naming certain brands might not be that useful. I've looked on Taobao and searched for "high-power power cables". https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a230r.1.14.99.4236569ebUiHvm&id=556597942893&ns=1&abbucket=10#detail https://detail.tmall.com/item.htm?spm=a230r.1.14.143.60423fc8lKkdbS&id=608717486548&ns=1&abbucket=10&skuId=4442249522331 What do I look for? How long should the cable be? (For the next event there is 20m from the source to the stage. I was thinking of buying at least a 30m long cable. Would it be better to go for 50m?) Total noob question, I know. Please forgive me
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csg
Old Croc Joined: 17 September 2007 Location: bedford Status: Offline Points: 6086 |
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Use the shortest power cable that you can, observing using a safe cable route. Mechanical protection for temporary supplies is important, in Europe H07-RNF specification tough rubber cable is preferred, im sure locally there will be a similar standard, and it is certainly made in China for export.
Other than that, your cable conductor requirements will depend on your local supply voltage and the current requirements of your rig. Into this equation you also have to add the distance from source, so conductor cross sections will increase in size considerably as distances grow, due to the need to keep voltage drop and loop impedance within safe limits. Further complications include the power factor and dynamic requirements of your equipment. I would strongly suggest consulting a local qualified electrician.
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“The fact is this is about identifying what we do best and finding more ways of doing less of it better”
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kedwardsleisure
Old Croc Joined: 20 January 2009 Location: Staffordshire Status: Offline Points: 4938 |
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good advice
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Kevin
North Staffordshire |
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Maze
Registered User Joined: 13 April 2014 Location: China Status: Offline Points: 179 |
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Thanks, CSG. Talking to someone local is probably not a bad idea. I had hoped I could order something online, that would be bulletproof for any amplication. China voltage is 220-240. The guy I bought the system from says best to have at least 2x16A power source.
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monkeypuzzle
Young Croc Joined: 25 January 2005 Status: Offline Points: 923 |
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So as mentioned, the two critical things are CSA (cross sectional area) you should be looking at 2.5mm per conductor. If you’re looking at greater distances above 30m you should go for 4mm or more but you may then struggle to get the wires in the plugs. Secondly the durability of the cable is also critical for long runs like this. The get trapped in doors, driven over and such like. Stay away from blue “artic” cable as it breaks to easily and if you can find a good source, the specification mention previously is what to look for.
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blah blah blah blah blah......
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Maze
Registered User Joined: 13 April 2014 Location: China Status: Offline Points: 179 |
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Great, thanks @Monkeypuzzle
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jacethebase
Old Croc Joined: 23 September 2009 Location: Somerset Status: Offline Points: 5697 |
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When you say 2 x 16a source. Make sure they are the same source when playing with a audio system unless you have some form of isolation between racks. I.E not two separate 16a generators going in to one amp rack. A 32a generator with 2 x 16a outlets is fine.
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www.wedding-production.co.uk
www.stage2sound.com |
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Maze
Registered User Joined: 13 April 2014 Location: China Status: Offline Points: 179 |
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@Jacethebase Good point, I think it's a 'landline' this time and not a generator though.
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4D
Old Croc Joined: 13 November 2008 Location: Winchester Status: Offline Points: 4257 |
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One of these rubber box distro units Along with 30 meter 3g6mmho7rnf extension cable And a set of suitable adaptors for each end..
Edited by 4D - 29 September 2020 at 9:47am |
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DMZ. "The bass was intense. Girls were literally running up to stand next to the subs"
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APW
Young Croc Joined: 13 November 2012 Location: Kent, UK Status: Offline Points: 1173 |
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He is in China... are ceeforms used out there? |
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